US allows Japan to delay decision on trans-Pacific Free Trade Agreement
March 31st, 2011 - 6:02 pm ICT by ANIWashington, Mar.31 (ANI): Keeping in mind the March 11 earthquake and tsunami and ensuing nuclear crisis in Japan, United States Trade Representative Ron Kirk said that the US wouldl allow Japan to delay its decision on joining the negotiations for a Trans-Pacific free trade agreement (TPP).
Kirk said Tokyo should focus on reconstructing the country after the disaster, Kyodo News reports.
He said: ” We understand there are some things that have to take precedence over our commercial interests. I don’t think we want to do anything that even hints at us trying to exploit what really is a horrible tragedy.”
Kirk said the United States would welcome Japan’s participation in the negotiations for the Trans-Pacific Partnership, being negotiated by nine members of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, whenever it will be ready.
He said: “Our ambition, our hope for not only Japan but the other members of APEC ultimately seeing the value and deciding to partner with us on TPP have not changed, but we think right now it would just be a bit cynical to ask Japan.”Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan had set a June deadline to decide on whether to join the talks toward slashing some of the world’s highest agricultural duties, including a 778 percent tariff on rice, but has made it clear that the decision would have to wait until after disaster relief efforts. (ANI)
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Tags: apec, asia pacific economic cooperation, commercial interests, disaster relief efforts, free trade agreement, horrible tragedy, japanese prime minister, kyodo news, march 11, members of apec, naoto kan, news reports, nuclear crisis, pacific economic cooperation, precedence, representative ron, ron kirk, tpp, trans pacific, united states trade representative